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If you're installing a new backsplash in your home or updating an old one, your focus is likely going to be on the area where the cooking takes place. As such, consider some stove backsplash ideas before making any style decisions.

Renovate Your Kitchen for Under $1,000

Get the Look for Less

Want to redo your kitchen without breaking the bank? "It is possible to give your kitchen a whole new look for much less money," says Nikki Trivisonno, president of the Ohio State Chapter of the National Kitchen & Bath Association. "But you have to be willing to make some compromises."

Start by updating the color and reducing clutter then add new hardware, fixtures and a backsplash. You'll go a long way toward stealing the high-end look you crave.

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Replace the Hardware

"Hardware has a really big impact on a kitchen's style, so changing it is a great way to freshen up the look of your kitchen," says Trivisonno.

For less than a couple hundred dollars and just a few hours of work, a homeowner can swap out every handle and knob in the kitchen. Styles range from contemporary to rustic to traditional. Finishes come in ultra-popular oil-rubbed bronze or easy-to-clean polished chrome. To make installation a breeze, Trivisonno suggests that homeowners bring along an old drawer pull when shopping to make sure the new hardware matches the holes of the previous set.

Depending on the style and finish of the hardware and the number of drawers and cabinets, the average kitchen can be completed for as little as $150.

Replace the Faucet

Fixtures are the jewelry of the kitchen, and the kitchen sink is often the focal point of the room. Investing in a new faucet is a simple and cost-effective way of giving the whole room an updated look. Like cabinet hardware, faucets come in a wide range of shapes, styles and finishes, making it easy to match the decor of the room.

Kitchen faucets come in single- and double-handled models and can include a separate pull-out sprayer, requiring an additional slot. Match the new faucet footprint to the old to save hours of frustration and quite possibly the cost of a brand new sink.

Install a Stainless Steel Laminate Backsplash

Capped with a thin layer of stainless steel, copper or aluminum, metallic laminate sheets can be used as countertop backsplashes, as appliance covers and for the wall area behind the cooking range. And because they install with little more than a few dabs of panel adhesive, the job is easy enough for any do-it-yourselfer.

A properly sized metallic laminate panel affixed to the face of a refrigerator or dishwasher can modernize its look for a tiny fraction of what a new appliance would cost.

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Add a Ceiling Fan

When shopping for a fan, look for the Energy Star Label, which means the product has met the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's energy-savings standards. Experts say an energy-efficient fan can save up to 40 percent on summer cooling costs and up to 10 percent in the winter. In other words, they're well worth the effort to install. They'll keep your kitchen cool and provide a new visual element to your space.

The options for kitchen backsplashes are just about infinite in terms of style, materials and budget, so even before you begin exploring ideas for your stove backsplash, you'll want to make some key decisions.

First, consider what material you'll use for your stove backsplash. There are many choices in terms of backsplash materials, but a few common ones can be found in the majority of homes because of their durability, ease of maintenance and attractiveness.

Ceramic tile is one of the most common backsplash materials. It's widely available in a vast array of colors, styles and textures, and it's one of the most inexpensive backsplash materials, as well.

Glass tile is also quite popular, offering a generally inexpensive but lively, bright and often colorful design option.

Granite, stone and other natural or composite materials are also commonly used in backsplashes, whether in tile form or as larger pieces. These higher-end materials will mean an increase in budget, but also a stunning and long-lasting stove backsplash.

Stainless steel is another popular option for stove backsplashes. Stainless steel appliances are quite popular, offering both a sleek appearance, great durability and a surface that wipes clean easily. The same is true of stainless steel stove backsplashes, for which the low-maintenance factor is especially important.

When you've decided on the material for your stove backsplash, it's time to determine the style, color, texture and amount of material you'll need. To figure out the latter, simply measure the square footage of the area you wish to cover. Determining the look and feel of the material you'll use will be more art than science, and you'll need to rely on your style instincts—as well as your desire to match or divert from the overall style of the kitchen—to determine the color, texture and patterns you'll use.

When you've decided on the style of the stove backsplash and sourced the materials needed, it's time to turn your attention to installation. You've got two options here: the DIY route, or professional installation. Depending on the complexity of the job and the difficulty of working with your chosen backsplash material (some tile materials are easier to configure, cut and secure to the wall than others, for example), as well as your own level of DIY expertise, you may choose to hire a contractor to install your backsplash or, if you're confident in your abilities, save some money by installing it yourself.